February 05, 2015

February 03, 2015

On Friday I hit up the Black Cat for a screening of Salad Days. It's a fab new documentary on the DC punk scene. It has lots of great concert footage and interviews. Check it out. And as a tip for anyone going to a movie at the Black Cat in the future: get their early so you can get a seat neat the center aisle, close to the stage. This isn't a movie theater. The screen isn't that big so you need to be close to it to have a good view. And if you sit on the outside, you'll get a lot of noise from the bars. You're welcome.

After the show, I headed downstairs for punk rock karaoke. I figured this would be enjoyable. I didn't expect that it would be my new favorite thing.

The song selection was ridiculously good and, unlike every other karaoke event I've ever been to, if you like the song that someone else picks you are encouraged to jump on stage and sing it with them. The group vibe was fabulous. If someone on stage saw you singing along near the front, they would over and drag you onto stage and give you the microphone. Having arrived late the the festivities, I wasn't able to sign up for a song myself, but I jumped on stage for Nirvana's "Sliver" and Black Flag's "TV Party." I was surprised the hear no Ramones songs, though I wouldn't be surprised if their songs went early.

My only complaint on the evening were the handful of non-punk songs that people sang. I liked the songs (one was even by my favorite band). But if you want to sing "Ring of Fire" or "Say It Ain't So"...go to regular karaoke. At some level I can't even be mad at the people who picked that because, why was it even an option to be picked?